Hermes Fallback Chain: plugin for Hermes Agent

Hermes dashboard plugin for editing the fallback provider chain from the Models page

What Hermes Fallback Chain does

Hermes already supports fallback_providers in config.yaml. This plugin gives that setting a focused interface: add backup models, reorder them, promote a fallback to primary, and save the chain back to the canonical config keys. It is a dashboard plugin, not a tool or gateway plugin. It registers into the models:top slot, so the editor appears above the built-in model analytics, and mounts two local backend routes under /api/plugins/hermes-fallback/.

When saving, it writes a top-level fallback_providers list of provider and model entries and removes the legacy fallback_model key so there is one source of truth. Reads still merge both through Hermes' own fallback helper. It needs Hermes Agent v0.14.0 or newer, the version that renders the models:top slot. A dashboard rescan is usually enough after UI changes, but changes to dashboard/plugin_api.py need a dashboard restart because backend routes mount at startup. Local checks use py_compile, json.tool, node --check and pytest.

Key features

Add, reorder and promote fallback models from the Models page
Saves to the fallback_providers key and removes the legacy fallback_model key
Registers in the models:top dashboard slot
Two local backend routes under /api/plugins/hermes-fallback/
Verification with a dashboard rescan call and a state route

When to use it

Setting backup models so Hermes continues when the primary provider fails
Reordering fallback priority without editing YAML by hand
Promoting a fallback model to primary

Who it is for: Hermes Agent users who run the web dashboard and want to manage fallback providers in the browser.

How it fits with Hermes Agent

Built for the Hermes dashboard. It uses the plugin slot system and edits Hermes' own fallback_providers config key.

How to install Hermes Fallback Chain

These commands are copied from the project's README. Check the repository for the latest steps before you run them.

git clone https://github.com/yafyx/hermes-fallback-chain ~/.hermes/plugins/hermes-fallback
hermes dashboard

Requirements: Hermes Agent v0.14.0 or newer and a dashboard that can load plugins from ~/.hermes/plugins/

FAQ

What is Hermes Fallback Chain?

Hermes Fallback Chain is a Hermes dashboard plugin for editing the fallback provider chain. It adds an editor above the model analytics on the Models page.

What do I need to run Hermes Fallback Chain?

You need Hermes Agent v0.14.0 or newer, because that version renders the models:top dashboard slot, and a dashboard that loads plugins from ~/.hermes/plugins/. Restart hermes dashboard after installing.

What does Hermes Fallback Chain write to my config?

It writes the top-level fallback_providers key in config.yaml, with provider and model entries. When saving, it removes the legacy fallback_model key so there is one source of truth.